Burst – Get-off is nothing to write home about, will have slight variance in his first step at times, but even the peaks aren’t noteworthy. Decent speed once he gets going up the arc, but a little herky-jerky in his movements and doesn’t threaten the edge considerably. Does a nice job of varying pace some, throwing off his opponent’s pass set to create softer angles.

Bend – Tight in the hips and doesn’t corner naturally. Bend and flexibility are a concern, especially considering how rarely he even attempted to corner against low-level offensive tackles, usually getting run up the arc when he did. Angles are too wide around the edge. Struggles to dip the shoulder and turn tight angles to the pocket, taking a few steps to throttle down at the top of the arc.

Rush Moves – Nasty cross-chop move and 2-hand swipe. Loves to knock down the tackle’s hands and work over top on a cleaner angle to the pocket. Violent with his mitts, showing the ability to club/swim inside of oversets and hand fight his way to the quarterback. Not an overly complex rusher, but constantly working to get home. Understands his limitations and won’t constantly run up the arc without a plan. Converts speed-to-power, albeit against tackles with some serious strength concerns.

Counters – Has the motor and violent hands to win with counters, and has flashed of exhibiting those abilities. As long as he can keep himself clean, he’s working a plan B, but can get engulfed by size and length if he doesn’t win with his hands early. Can he win the edge enough in the NFL to force more savvy offensive tackles into oversets and give him the inside path he covets?

Run Defense – Loves to lock out the edge with a long arm to his opponent’s chest. Good technically with his hands and depth to the line of scrimmage, and will work his tail off to make plays backside or in gaps away from him. Not great at holding the point of attack and can get knocked off the ball by power, length or angled blocks attacking his space. Lack of range and ability in space got exposed a few times this season.

Lateral Mobility – Interesting movement skills, more segmented and burst-y than fluid or agile. Can be overaggressive in one direction, which may make his change-of-directions skills look worse than they are. Combine should help provide some clarity. Had some struggles finishing in space against more athletic ball carriers.

Mental Processing/Vision – Excellent at recognizing oversets and working back inside his opponent. Processes quickly on his feet and takes the best path to the quarterback. Doesn’t waste many rushes and is constantly working back to the passer’s depth. As a run defender processing was usually strong, did struggle at times to decipher zone reads and can be slow to work off run read in play-action situations.

Tackling/Finishing – Has let some finishes slip away, but most of the time gets runners on the ground and is physical as often as possible. Most of his misses come in space, where Ximines has some issues. Outstanding at targeting the football, forced 11 fumbles over his past three seasons at Old Dominion.

Competitive Toughness – Not the most physically or athletically gifted player, but the dude works. Won’t back down from anyone and brought the fight to Power 5 Virginia Tech from the first snap. Relentless motor to chase the ball all over the field.

Athleticism/Size – Lacks great length and is small for a defensive end. I think he’s heavier than 247, but if not, NFL teams will likely see him as more of a 3-4 fit, so he’ll need to show out in coverage drills in Mobile and Indy. Athleticism is decent on tape, but pass rush traits like burst and flexibility aren’t often evident.

BEST TRAIT – Rush Moves

WORST TRAIT – Burst/Bend

RED FLAGS – None

A hustler with strong production and an elite name, Oshane Ximines has some fun rush moves in his repertoire and will bring the fight to everyone, which should make him a helpful NFL contributor. Unfortunately I’m not sure the explosiveness, bend or flexibility is there for a much higher ceiling at the next level, although the Senior Bowl and Combine will be helpful for determining how good he can be.

Will Ximines get pegged as a 3-4 outside linebacker only if he checks in under 250? I’m not sure he’s the kind of player you want dropping into coverage a bunch of times a game, and rushing the passer is what he does best. His hand usage and physicality suggest a third down role, but if his athletic limitations are real, Ximines might have a hard time earning major snaps in the NFL.

PROS: NFL caliber athlete in terms of size, power, and quickness — has a profile more advantageous to 3-4 OLB over 4-3 DE, though likely can offer positive traits at both. Has very active hands when attacking half-man tracks: incorporates a two-handed swipe, club/rip, and arm over. Hands arrive with good force and he can create shock displacement with two-handed stab. Handwork especially impresses when taking the inside track, which he does frequently. Grip strength when engaged seems solid.

Has good lateral quickness to attack half-man on offensive tackles. Plays with balance and body control necessary to execute counter moves and adjust rush plans according to OT set and QB depth; has great recognition abilities in this regard. Has some bend to flatten and finish after clearing hands.

CONS: Bend does not seem to be elite off of available tape, which is limited in terms of high-caliber opposing talent. Will widen unnecessarily around the outside track and may struggle with physical nature of dipping shoulder and ripping tight through contact to take shortest route through quarterback. Willingness to dip shoulder and rip through present, however, when stunting/slanting to the inside track — likely more a technique issue than an aversion to physicality.

Does not have a great anchor and seems a bit light in the pants. Will get blown off the ball by double teams and will lose ground to down blocks when looking to anchor. Best running game plays come when slanting into inside gaps as a penetrator. Lacks high-level NFL burst off of the snap to regularly win first contact or immediately threaten outside shoulder, which may cap ceiling.

First Step Quickness –When loaded up into a speed stance is capable of challenging and stressing pass protectors effectively. Burst and release out of stance is inconsistent, however. Short area quickness is effective to challenge and fold back inside. Lacks sustained burst around the edge to be a true speed rusher.

Hand Technique/Length –Flashes some very nice hand usage to force missed punches and slip through gaps. Effective with club and swim combination, as well as arm over to slip through a gap. Needs to continue to hone separation skills at the point of attack, showed ability but maximizing length to separate needs work.

Pass Rush Counters –Has several initial counters, several of which are effective. Won with inside counters, rip/club, arm over counters. Needs to have multiple plans, however. When initial counter and challenge is shut down often times loses reps due to an inability to redirect and create new separation.

Flexibility –Disassociation between the feet/hips/shoulders is limited, which puts him at a gross disadvantage when unable to gain a step on blockers off the outside. Cannot diminish steep angles to the target and as a result will need to win with snap anticipation or counters. Either way, a limitation.

Run Defending –Most effective when tasked with playing outside-in, suggesting a stand-up OLB in an even front may minimize his deficiencies against the run. Can get good hip drop to anchor when playing outside contain. Effective reps also come as a stunt player to crash through a gap and pivot to mesh point.

Competitive Toughness –Gets pushed around far too often along the line of scrimmage, has gotten hooked and driven off the ball against smaller schools. Definitely turned up the intensity against Virginia Tech, so motor has the ability to run hot…just didn’t show consistent effort against all comers in this 4-game sample.

Tackling –Aggressive closing burst to challenge with power, particularly when ball carriers have slowed to collect balance and are looking to cut up the field. Has some wingspan issues and has struggled to tilt quickly to peel back, redirect and finish plays against shifty ball carriers.

Lateral Mobility –Has gotten snookered at the mesh point against zone read, struggling to get the necessary width and challenge a ball carrier with momentum to the outside. Phone booth quickness is effective, particularly in speed packages and stand-up reps against interior pass protectors.

Stand Up Ability –Showed impressive inside win vs. Virginia Tech to quickly shift gaps and hit a counter to get chest cleared through the gap en route to QB hit. Does not possess the open space athleticism to be regarded as a space athlete or second level defender.

Football IQ –Has fallen asleep at the wheel a few times when given an uncontested release into the backfield. Promising flashes of hand usage suggest pass rush abilities have room to grow in a larger setting. Will require further polish against the run to finish plays when needed to get off bodies.

BEST TRAIT – Hand Technique

WORST TRAIT – Competitive Toughness

BEST FILM – Virginia Tech (2018))

WORST FILM – Liberty (2018)

RED FLAGS – None

Oshane Ximines projects most favorably as a stand-up OLB in an odd front. There, his issues stacking up blockers in head up situations can be minimized and he can rush from wider angles. There, his effective inside counters can be highlighted and manufactured more consistently. A developmental prospect, Ximines does have promise but also an inconsistent motor.